Plug contactor



March 14, 1967 J. WHITEMAN PLUG CONTAGTOR Filed July 13, 1964 1N VENI'OR. EDWHRD JOHN \IJHWEMHN BY W WW ed a f United States Patent Gfifice Patented Mar. 14, 1957 3,309,648 PLUG CONTACTQR Edward John Whiternan, Hmisburg, 1 2., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed luiy 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,241 8 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) This invention relates to an improved plug contactor of the type used in plugboard systems.

In US. Patent No. 3,134,633 granted to John G. Hatfield, May 26, 1964, there is described an improved contactor which is adapted to be plugged into an aperture of a plugboard or like device and to form a conductive path between contact spring members which engage such contactor and other contactors tied thereto by a lead. The Hatfield device includes a spring member and locking member mechanism which permits the contactor to be withdrawn from the plugboard by overcoming spring pressure which operates to hold against accidental displacement and resists push-out from the plugboard by reason of the ioclcing member blocking the spring member. In such construction the spring member is made to include a generally longitudinally extending arm extending along the barrel member carrying a detent on the end thereof which protrudes through the barrel to serve to latch during pull-out and to lock during push-out. The Hatfield spring construction has a cantilever type action which extends for a good length of the contactor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plug contactor adapted to latch against accidental withdrawal and lock against push-out, including a spring mechanism which operates in a radial sense relative to the longitudinal axis of such contactor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel latching and locking contactor construction featuring a spring member having a substantially radial action and a cooperating locking member having a longitudinal action.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a plug contactor of the latching and locking type including a novel spring member mounting means to facilitate assembly of loose tolerance parts.

Another object is to provide a iocking and latching contactor for use in receptacles of relatively short length.

Oher objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but are iven for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of a contactor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front-end view of the contactor of the invention partially sectioned;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective showing the novel spring member of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment of a spring member for use with the contactor of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an end-on view of the spring member of FIGURE 4.

In FIGURE 1 the contactor of the invention in one embodiment is shown as element 10 terminated to a single strand conductor 12. The contactor 10 includes a forward or barrel portion 29 havin a ferrule portion 26a crimped or otherwise terminated in a suitable fashion to the wire core of lead 12 and further includes an insulating boot molded or otherwise fixed over the insulation of lead 12 and over the rear portion of 20 including the ferrule 20a. The barrel 20 includes just forward of the ferrule portion 20a, an enlarged transition portion Ziib which leads to a flange portion 20c extending outwardly to a diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture of the plugboard or like device in which the contactor is used. Portion 20c serves as a stop to limit axial insertion of the contactor within such aperture. The interior of 29 at portion 280 defines an outwardly disposed radial recess 20d having a function to be described. Forward of 200 is a further portion 262 of a diameter approximating but slightly smaller than the aperture in which the contactor is used to permit a sliding but supported fit of the contactor into such aperture. This portion includes at the end thereof an aperture 2thwhich extends in an annular sense as shown in FIGURE 2. Immediately forward thereof is a necked down portion 29g and a nose or contact portion Ziih which is slightly rounded at the end, as at 2th. In a preferred form the barrel 2G is constructed by standard techniques including blanking, stamping and forming from flat brass stock of a suitable thickness to maintain the structural integrity of the contactor in use. It is also contemplated that the barrel may be formed from a tube by swaging techniques with the aperture 29; being placed therein by cutting or drilling after swaging.

The length from Ztic to the aperture 26 is made to be the approximate thickness of the board containing the aperture in which the contactor is used and there is included within 29 a member 22 having a detent member 220 which has a rounded outer surface and an inner surface as indicated, which is flattened to define a surface sloped inwardly. The detent 22a is held to normally extend out of 28 a distance sufficient such that the rounded surface will engage the edges of the board with which the contactor is used during insertion and withdrawal of the contactor therefrom. The detent 22a is carried by a spring portion 22b which extends radially more than degrees around the interior of barrel portion 292 in the forward end thereof as indicated in FIGURES l and 3. A support portion 220 joins I portion 22b and extends rearwardly along the interior of barrel 20 to a further portion 22d which is formed in a circular sense and radially positioned with respect to the length of the barrei 20. Portion 22d constitutes a further spring member having a radial action and adapted to cooperate with recess Ziid and hold the spring member 22 against axial m-ovment relative to the barrel. The spring member can be formed of music wire or other stiff, hard spring material with the detent head portion formed thereon by any suitable manner.

In use then, as the contractor barrel is inserted within an aperture of a plugboard, the edge of such aperture and front face of such board engage detent 22a and because of the curvature operate to drive such inwardly in a radial sense compressing the spring arm 22b also in a radial sense. Upon withdrawal of the contactor from the board, the rearward and curved surface of detent 22a is then engaged and driven inwardly in the same manner against the compression of spring arm 22b. The strength of the spring 221) in conjunction with the curvature of the outer surfaces of 22a combine to define an axial insertion and withdrawal force for the contactor. It is the practice to have a force, at least as to withdrawal, of at least several pounds to prevent accidental displacement of the contactor from the board.

A further member shown as 24 is carried within the nose or contact portion 2611 and includes a body portion 24a having at one end a rounded extension 2417 which protrudes from the end 201' and at the other end includes a head portion 24c which has a rearward beveled surface 24d. The diameter of portion 24a is such as to permit member 24 to slide relatively free in an axial sense within 2011. The diameter of head portion 240 is, due to its engagement with a portion of the spring arm 22b, such as to preclude the member 24 from floating back within the contactor. The rear surface 24a is normally spaced from the lower surface of detent 22a by an amount sufiicient to permit 22a to be driven downwardly within the diameter of barrel portion 20c for withdrawal and insertion purposes and 240 is of a thickness to permit a forward movement to assure this. In operation on insertion the member 24 merely rests on, or is driven to the forward position shown in FIGURE 1, by 22a. If a force is applied to the end of the contactor such as to engage 24b the member 24 is driven rearwardly to a position to block the inward travel of 22a so as to cause the contactor to be locked within the plugboard against withdrawal under all but destructive forces.

In operation as to withdrawal and push-out the spring arm 22b serves as a spring disposed for radial action and portion 220 serves as merely a locating and support means for spring arm 22b and detent 22a and anchor such via portion 22d which is fitted in recess 29d. Preferably, portion 220. is made to have spring characteristics such that in its relaxed state it has an outward diameter so as to snap outwardly into recess 20d. During assembly, with 24 first inserted into position, spring 22 is inserted and snapped into position prior to the closure of the after end of barrel 20 and the crimping operation at ferrule portion 20a. This means that loose tolerance parts can be more readily employed.

Turning now to an alternative version and to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is shown a spring construction 39 which is adapted to work in a contactor such as 20 having a forward portion such as 24, substantially identical to that shown in FIGURE 1. The spring member 30 is essentially a stamped version of 22 and may be of steel spring stock suitably hardened after forming. Member 36 has a detent 30a which is adapted to fit through aperture 20 of 20a and operate as a latching and locking member. Detent 30a is joined and suported by a spring arm portion 3% extending about 180 degrees or more radially around 20e. In similarity to 220 is a support and locating portion 300 extending back along 20:: to a circular formed spring member portion 30d which operates to snap into a recess such as 20d and hold the spring member in position with in the contactor, The recess 26d is preferably shaped to accommodate the rectangular cross section of stamping 30 rather than the rounded shape of 20a. The width of arm 30!) can be selected to provide a substantial variation of spring forces even within a given material. The width of 301) additionally adds a stability to the spring member against rocking or pivoting within barrel portion 20e.

While the invention is useful with existing equipments, it has particular use in receptacles of less thickness than heretofore possible with spring actions requiring cantilever operation. The showing here included is a typical construction for use with standard board thickness can be shortened in new systems considerably. Thus, the barrel 20 and arms 220 or 300 will be shortened to define a closer spacing between the flange 29c and detent 22a or 30a. The spring arms of FIGURES 1 and 4 have been depicted as joined by a straight portion, 22c or 300, but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates other configurations linking the spring arms. For example, the arm 220 may be spiralled back from one end of 22a to one end of 22d. This configuration would reduce the necessity for sharp bends in the spring stock.

It is, of course, also contemplated that in applications wherein there is no requirement for resisting pushout the nose member 24 can be omitted from the structure.

Changes'in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various aparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set fourth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plug contactor a sleeve member having a support portion and a forward contact portion, a rearward portion adapted to be terminated to a conductive lead and a locking and latching mechanism fitted within the sleeve member including a forward nose member extending out of said forward contact portion and supported for sliding movement therein, said nose member having a head portion extending into the forward end of said support portion, a spring member having a detent carried thereon positioned to extend through an aperture proximate said end of said support portion to engage the edges of a receptacle during use of said contactor, said spring member having an arm disposed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said contactor which provides spring action in a generally radial sense relatively transverse to the longitudinal axis of said contactor whereby upon said contactor being plugged into a plugboard or withdrawn therefrom the said detent is engaged by receptacle edges to be driven inwardly against the said spring action and upon the forces being applied to the end of said contactor forward nose member tending to push said contactor from said plugboard, the said head portion thereof is driven rearwardly to block the said detent from inward travel to prevent said contactor from being pushed out of said plugboard.

2. The contactor of claim 1 wherein said spring member further includes a support member extending rearwardly of said detent along said support portion and there is included at the end thereof a further spring memher, an outwardly disposed recess in said support portion inner surface, the said further spring member having a diameter to snap outwardly and fit within said outer recess to anchor said spring member and said detent against substantial axial movement relative to said contactor.

3. In a plug contactor for use with a lugboard having apertures therein, a sleeve member having a barrel portion and integral therewitha forward contact nose portion adapted to be engaged by a further contact member to complete an electrical path, the contact portion including a bore therethrough to receive a nose member secured therein for a sliding movement, said nose member having a head thereon positioned within said support portion in the forward end thereof and having an end extending from said contact portion in an axial sense to receive axial forces applied to said contactor from the forward end, a spring member disposed within the forward end of the support portion including a spring arm disposed in a plane extending transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of said support portion, an aperture in said support portion, said spring arm having thereon a detent extending through. said aperture to a position outside the outer diameter thereof to operate as a locking and latching means. by engagement with the edges of a receptacle into which the contactor is plugged, the said aperture having a configuration to confine said detent and thereby said spring member to a movement and spring action in a plane extending in a transverse sense relative to the longitudinal axis of said contactor and means to anchor said spring means against relative axial movement to said support portion whereby forces applied to the forward end of said nose member drive said member axially and cause said head to bear against said detent and spring member and effect a loci-ting thereof against inward movement to loci; said contactor within a receptacle and whereby in the absence of a force applied to said nose member said detent and spring member are free for movement permitting insertion and withdrawal of said contactor responsive to a defined axial force appiied to said contactor relative to a receptacle.

4. The contactor of claim 3 wherein said latchin means is comprised of a portion integral with said spring means extending rearwardly in an axial sense and joining a C-shaped spring member adapted for spring engagement in a recess in the inner wall of said support portion to hold said spring against relative axial movement.

5. An improved plug contactor including a sleeve membcr having a forward contact portion and a body portion adapted to fit within a receptacle; at least one aperture in the forward end of said body portion and an outward annular flange proximate the other end of said body portion defining an interior recess within said body portion, a nose member adapted for sliding movement within said contact portion and a C-shaped spring member disposed within the interior of said sleeve mem her and residing in a plane transverse to the length axis of said sleeve member, said spring member having a rounded detent extending through said aperture, said detent being adapted to be cammed by the edges of a receptacle in a radial sense inwardly in a plane transverse to the length axis of said contactor to load said spring member and permit said contactor to be insertcd within or withdrawn from a receptacle, the said aperture being shaped to confine detent movement and spring action to a plane transverse to the length axis of said contactor responsive to an axial force applied to said contactor and to said detent, the said detent and spring member having inner surfaces positioned to be engaged by said nose member responsive to a rearward force thereon to block inward radial movement thereof to lock said contactor in said receptacle.

6. A contactor adapted to be plug ed into a receptacle ell) including a barrel portion, a spring member disposed therein having a spring arm extending around a substantial portion of the inner surface of the barrel portion in a transverse sense reiative to the longitudinal axis thereof, said spring member including a detent having surfaces curved in an axial sense to cam against the edges or a receptacle into which the contactor is inserted or withdrawn, said barrel portion including a slot extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said. co partially around the periphery of said barrel portion, said slot having a width to receive said detent extended therethrough and operating to confine detent movement and spring action to a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis or" said contactor whereby on insertion or withdrawal the said detent operates to load said spring member in a transverse sense to define a finite axial force requirement for contactor insertion or withdrawal.

7. The contactor of claim 6 wherein said spring arm is a stiif wire and extends at least 180 degrees around the interior periphery of said barrel portion.

3. The contactor of claim 6 wherein said spring arm is a stamping and extends at least 180 degrees around the interior periphery of said barrel portion.

References Cited by the Examiner ED'WARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

PATRiCK A. CLIFFORD, Examiner. 

1. IN A PLUG CONTACTOR A SLEEVE MEMBER HAVING A SUPPORT PORTION AND A FORWARD CONTACT PORTION, A REARWARD PORTION ADAPTED TO BE TERMINATED TO A CONDUCTIVE LEAD AND A LOCKING AND LATCHING MECHANISM FITTED WITHIN THE SLEEVE MEMBER INCLUDING A FORWARD NOSE MEMBER EXTENDING OUT OF SAID FORWARD CONTACT PORTION AND SUPPORTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREIN, SAID NOSE MEMBER HAVING A HEAD PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE FORWARD END OF SAID SUPPORT PORTION, A SPRING MEMBER HAVING A DETENT CARRIED THEREON POSITIONED TO EXTEND THROUGH AN APERTURE PROXIMATE SAID END OF SAID SUPPORT PORTION TO ENGAGE THE EDGES OF A RECEPTACLE DURING USE OF SAID CONTACTOR, SAID SPRING MEMBER HAVING AN ARM DISPOSED IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CONTACTOR WHICH PROVIDES SPRING ACTION IN A GENERALLY RADIAL SENSE RELATIVELY TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CONTACTOR WHEREBY UPON SAID CONTACTOR BEING PLUGGED INTO A PLUGBOARD OR WITHDRAWN THEREFROM THE SAID DETENT IS ENGAGED BY RECEPTACLE EDGES TO BE DRIVEN INWARDLY AGAINST THE SAID SPRING ACTION AND UPON THE FORCES BEING APPLIED TO THE END OF SAID CONTACTOR FORWARD NOSE MEMBER TENDING TO PUSH SAID CONTACTOR FROM SAID PLUGBOARD, THE SAID HEAD PORTION THEREOF IS DRIVEN REARWARDLY TO BLOCK THE SAID DETENT FROM INWARD TRAVEL TO PREVENT SAID CONTACTOR FROM BEING PUSHED OUT OF SAID PLUGBOARD. 